Dollar died from trauma

Police: But victim wasn’t shot or stabbed

September 18, 2012

MARQUETTE - Police have said a Marquette man whose body was located Friday in an abandoned building was killed by "trauma to the body."

Marquette City Police Chief Mike Angeli confirmed this morning that Shawn Michael Dollar, 34, died from trauma and said the man had not been stabbed or shot.

The death has been classified as suspicious, according to police, but Angeli said it isn't currently being classified as a homicide.

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DOLLAR

Dollar's body was found Friday afternoon in the abandoned building located at 231 W. Washington St. He was last seen Sept. 8 and was reported missing Thursday.

Angeli said a police search - which included interviews with witnesses who had seen Dollar that night - led officers to the abandoned building.

"His disappearance was related to that area. He was last seen in that area," he said. "We decided to look in the building. The door was open."

Angeli said the police obtained permission from the building's owner, who lives in Chicago, to enter the premises.

The building at 231 Washington St. was most recently home to the 231 House of Muses, an art studio and alternative music venue.

A fire in January of 2007 gutted the building, which has been vacant since.

City records indicate that the building is owned by Danowski LLC, which is based in Downer's Grove, Ill.

Angeli said the building "doesn't really look like people go in there regularly" and city staff said they can only attempt to keep abandoned buildings secure from the street.

According to Dennis Stachewicz, the city's director of planning and community development, the city follows the international property maintenance code to care for abandoned properties.

The code states staff should ensure buildings are weathertight and secure.

"Really, at this point in time, when we talk about health and safety in the community when it comes to buildings, we utilize the international property maintenance code, as we always have," Stachewicz said. "All we can do is observe from the outside of the property. It just permits us to look at the weathertightness and whether the building is secure."